Ice and snow removal system and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for snow and ice removal from a roadway or other horizontal civil engineering structure. The apparatus may include a conventional plow, a chipper to break apart ice, a nozzle to project a hot liquid to melt snow and ice, a heater to further melt snow and ice, and a vacuum to suction the melted snow and ice slurry for containment in a holding tank. The system is preferably mounted for carriage by a motor vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/039,000, filed Aug. 19, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to roadway maintenance systems and, more particularly, to a system and methods for the removal of snow and ice from roadways and other horizontal civil engineering construction works.

In winter many roads and parking lots are closed due to the accumulation of snow and ice, causing major problems in transportation. It would clear roads and parking lots days earlier than they would normally be cleared. When vacuum tank gets full water can be drained on side of road or into sewers.

In northern regions, where there are prevailing seasonal winter storm conditions, affected states maintain fleets of snow removal equipment, including snow plows and salt trucks. Snow is shoveled with fleets of snow plows. Ice formation is combated with salt trucks that disperse granular salt or spray the roadways with a saline solution to prevent or impede the formation of ice on the roadways. The dispersal of salt or saline solutions on roadways requires substantial stockpiles of salt in order to adequately combat the formation or incidence of ice on the roadways.

In southern tier states, the incidence of snow and ice formation is a fairly uncommon phenomenon. Accordingly, these states do not maintain fleets of snow removal equipment to combat winter road hazards. Moreover, even where they do maintain show removal equipment, these states seldom establish the requisite stockpiles of salts to engage in any semblance of ice prevention or remediation, which is usually limited.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved snow and ice removal system and apparatus that is not reliant on stores of salt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for snow and ice removal, includes: a head operatively coupled to a motor vehicle; a sprayer operatively coupled to a source of fluid carried by said motor vehicle and projecting downwardly from said head; a heater enclosure operatively coupled to a fuel source carried by said motor vehicle, said heater enclosure projecting downwardly from said head; and a vacuum head operatively coupled to a vacuum source and a suction product holding tank carried by said motor vehicle, said vacuum head projecting downwardly from said head, wherein said sprayer, heater enclosure, and said vacuum head are contained within a hood of said head. Other aspects of the apparatus include a chipper operatively coupled to said head. The chipper may operable to provide for a vertical reciprocating action. The chipper may alternatively be operable for rotary action about a vertical axis.

In some aspects of the invention the head is selectively positionable between an operating position, with the head positioned in proximity to a road surface, and a traveling position, with the head positioned substantially elevated from the road surface. The apparatus may further include a plow operatively coupled to the head.

In another aspect of the invention an apparatus for snow and ice removal, is provided that includes a head operatively coupled to a motor vehicle; a sprayer operatively coupled to a source of fluid carried by the motor vehicle and projecting downwardly from the head; a heater enclosure operatively coupled to a fuel source carried by the motor vehicle, the heater enclosure having an opening projecting downwardly from the head; and a vacuum head operatively coupled to a vacuum source and a suction product holding tank carried by the motor vehicle, the vacuum head projecting downwardly from the head.

The apparatus may also be provisioned with a chipper operatively coupled to the head. The chipper may be operable to provide for a vertical reciprocating action or a rotary action about a vertical axis. The head is selectively positionable between an operating position, with the head positioned in proximity to a road surface, and a traveling position, with the head positioned substantially elevated from the road surface.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: is a schematic section view of the invention.

FIG. 2: is a schematic view of the invention.

FIG. 3: is a detail schematic section view of the invention, shown in use during road clearing, illustrating the flow of liquid 54 through sprayer 14, the heat emitting from heater 20, and the flow of liquid 52 into vacuum 24.

FIG. 4: is a detail schematic section view of the invention, showing the attachment of hose 48 to drain line 44 for draining tank 40.

FIG. 5: is a flow chart of a method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a snow removal and ice remediation apparatus. As best seen in reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an apparatus 5 according to the present invention may include a plow 10, for removing snow as in conventional methods. The plow 10 is mounted to a multifunction ice removal head 25, preferably positioned forward of the cab of a motor vehicle, such as a truck 28, the size of the truck will vary depending upon the intended area to be cleared of snow and ice 58. For example, an apparatus 5 for clearing a parking lot of a small office complex may be suited to a standard or small size pick-up truck, whereas a larger office complex or commercial retail may be suited to a utility truck, and a substantial roadway or road network, may be better suited to a semi-tractor truck.

The ice removal head 25 may be secured to the truck via support rigging 30 extending from a structural frame of the truck 32, or to the truck cab 28. The ice removal head 25 may also be mounted to the truck via conventional mounting system, such as used for snow plows. Preferably, the head 25 is selectively positioned between a lowered, operational position in close proximity with the roadway 60 and an elevated, traveling position for movement of the system 5 over roadways without engaging in snow removal and remediation purposes. Controls for the respective components of the system 5 may be conveniently located within the truck cab 28.

The multifunction ice removal head 25 includes a hood 12 providing an enclosure for the various elements of the head 25. A first component of the ice removal head may include a chipper 14, which includes a bit that may be a reciprocating and/or radially spinning for chipping engagement with accumulations of ice 58 on the road surface. The chipper 14 breaks or fractures large ice formations into smaller parts as the ice 58 enters underneath the hood 12, to allow for subsequent treatment and remediation by other components of the system 5.

Following the ice 58 the chipper 14, the system may further include a spray nozzle 16, which is connected to a water holding tank 40 via a sprayer hose 18. Water holding tank 40 may further comprise a filter and pump unit 42 for providing a pressurized source of water to the spray nozzle 16. The spray nozzle 16 is capable of directing a spray of hot water at the road surface 60 to assist in melting of the ice and snow 58 as the hood 12 traverses the road surface 60. The water holding tank 40 should also include a vent or fill port 50 positioned at the top of the tank 40 and a drain line 44 and valve 46 for draining the water tank 40.

The system 5 may further include a heater enclosure 20, which contains flames and heat from a combustion fuel, such as propane, communicated from storage in a fuel tank 34 via a fuel hose 22 to the combustion area within the heater enclosure 20. The heat from the combustion provides an intense heat source to further melt the snow and ice 58 from the road surface 60 beneath the hood 12.

Following the heater enclosure 20, the system 5 may further comprise a vacuum head 24, operatively connected to the water holding tank 40 via the vacuum hose 26. A vacuum pump 38 is provided, preferable just forward of the water holding tank 40 to provide a source of vacuum to the vacuum hose 26. An insulated wall 36 is preferably interposed between the fuel tank 34 and the vacuum pump 38 so as to avoid hazardous spark conditions.

Suction applied at the vacuum head 24 suctions off the heated water, melted snow and ice, road debris, and any remaining ice particles from the road 60 and are stored in the water holding tank 40. Particulates and road debris suctioned into the water holding tank 40 are filtered at the filter element of the filter and pump unit 42. The heated water, snow and ice suctioned from the roadway 60 provides a replenishment source of water for the water tank 40. Should the volume of water and ice removed from the roadway 60 exceed the capacity of the water tank 40, the water tank 40 may be drained at a sewer opening or a drainage ditch proximal to the roadway 60 via a drain hose connected to the drain line 44 line 44.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 3-5, the front plow 10 first pushes excess snow 58 off the road surface 60. As the hood 12 passes over the road 60, the chipper 14 breaks up ice remaining on the road 60. The sprayer 16 distributes hot water 54 onto the road 60 to melt the remaining chipped ice and snow 58. As the heater 20 passes over the road surface 60 it continues to melt remaining snow and ice 58. The vacuum 24 suctions off liquid from the melted ice and snow 52, thereby removing it from the road 60 so that it won't re-freeze on the roadway 60.

The vacuumed liquid is stored in the water holding tank 40, where a portion of the vacuumed liquid is available to be recirculated to the sprayer 16. A driver uses controls in the truck cab 28 to raise or lower the plow and hood and to control the sprayer, chipper, heater, vacuum, and other functions of the system 5. When necessary, the holding tank 40 is drained by connecting a drain hose 48 to the drain line 44 and the water is released into the sewer system or other suitable location.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for snow and ice removal, comprising: a head operatively coupled to a motor vehicle; a sprayer operatively coupled to a source of fluid carried by said motor vehicle and projecting downwardly from said head; a heater enclosure operatively coupled to a fuel source carried by said motor vehicle, said heater enclosure projecting downwardly from said head; and a vacuum head operatively coupled to a vacuum source and a suction product holding tank carried by said motor vehicle, said vacuum head projecting downwardly from said head, wherein said sprayer, heater enclosure, and said vacuum head are contained within a hood of said head.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising; a chipper operatively coupled to said head.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said chipper is operable to provide for a vertical reciprocating action.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said chipper is operable for rotary action about a vertical axis.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said head is selectively positioned between an operating position, with the head positioned in proximity to a road surface, and a traveling position, with the head positioned substantially elevated from the road surface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plow operatively coupled to said head.
 7. An apparatus for snow and ice removal, comprising: a head operatively coupled to a motor vehicle; a sprayer operatively coupled to a source of fluid carried by said motor vehicle and projecting downwardly from said head; a heater enclosure operatively coupled to a fuel source carried by said motor vehicle, said heater enclosure having an opening projecting downwardly from said head; and a vacuum head operatively coupled to a vacuum source and a suction product holding tank carried by said motor vehicle, said vacuum head projecting downwardly from said head.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising; a chipper operatively coupled to said head.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said chipper is operable to provide for a vertical reciprocating action.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said chipper is operable for rotary action about a vertical axis.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said head is selectively positioned between an operating position, with the head positioned in proximity to a road surface, and a traveling position, with the head positioned substantially elevated from the road surface.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plow operatively coupled to said head. 